as in pull
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
had to give the shoe a good yank to get it off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to jerk
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion
she stupidly yanked the wheel while I was driving
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to pull
to draw out by force or with effort
yanked out a tooth with a pair of pliers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grab
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
grab the other one, and let's see if we can't yank these two grocery carriages apart
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of yank
Stephen Pyne, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Only the snarl of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 will give away that this wagon’s packing 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of yank.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 29 June 2025
Koepka, already 6-over through eight holes, yanked his tee shot left on the par-4 9th.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for yank
Noun
With tugs and yanks and positive feedback, a planetary makeover began that is rampant today.
—Stephen Pyne, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Only the snarl of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 will give away that this wagon’s packing 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of yank.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
The parliamentarian's initial decisions mean Republicans have yanked out efforts to curb environmental regulations; restrict federal judges' powers; bulk up immigration enforcement; and cut funding from a consumer protection agency.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 29 June 2025
Koepka, already 6-over through eight holes, yanked his tee shot left on the par-4 9th.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for yank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yank
Noun
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Earth's natural satellite exerts a powerful gravitational pull that generally slows our rotation over long timescales.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
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On these days, the moon will be at its furthest from the Earth's equator, changing its gravitational pull and causing our planet to spin just a tiny bit faster on its axis, according to science news website LiveScience.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Centre Court looked naked without line judges, but Fognini’s presence and touch filled the void and jerked the joie de vivre out of Alcaraz’s racket.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Patrick Walle’s horn solo up top sounded suspended in time, before an increasingly feral orchestra jerked us back to street level.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2025
Verb
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Order fish tacos or fresh salads at Bad Boy Burrito; grab at coffee at Cafe Moka; shop for clothing and gifts at Miss Monroe Boutique; and browse the open-air stalls at boo kee sue Botanics for handmade textiles, ceramics, and more.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
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Pick up seasonal staples like this breezy maxi dress and these Crocs recovery slides to comfortably beat the heat, or grab year-round closet staples like these classic Levi’s jeans and this timeless button-down shirt by Gap.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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The 18-year-old, who goes by the nickname Eliza rather than Elizabeth, opened up about the emotional tug of war between honoring her own identity and meeting her family’s expectations in a recent Reddit post.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
6 July 2025
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Aim to finish with a clear success - whether that's catching the toy or winning a tug game.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
Verb
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The fearful pup stepped out to greet her, his tail twitching—his first show of trust in a long time.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
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So instead, designers tweaked certain details, like twitching nerves under his skin and the iridescence in his scales.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Verb
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Historically, Sioux warriors would lure an eagle with rabbit or other food, pluck a few feathers and release it, said Thunder Hawk, who grew up in South Dakota.—
Giovanna Dell'orto,
Twin Cities,
13 July 2025
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Gunn takes the vast canon of Superman lore — from various iterations of the comics to TV shows like Smallville to the Donner films — and treats it like a grab bag, plucking elements from many sources.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Trump tear-gasses children, rips them from their parents, and deports farmworkers.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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Trees that are 100 years old just ripped out of the ground.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
Verb
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With the stunning reemergence of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic socialists in the New York City mayor’s election, the Democratic Party is lurching even further to the left, leaving them even more alienated and out of touch.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
26 June 2025
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The Taxpayers can lurch from old-school punk into pop, ballad and experimental territories.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Yank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yank. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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